Oskar Olausson – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:37:22 +0000

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 28: Colorado Avalanche draft pick Mikhail Gulyayev poses for a photo with team officials during the first round of the Upper Deck NHL Draft, June 28, 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

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Colorado 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Josh Bell — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:00:53 +0000

_{OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 16: Colorado Avalanche Goalie Justus Annunen (60) looks to make a save during first period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on January 16, 2024, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 25th (Previous Rank - 20th)
GM: Chris MacFarland Hired: July 2022
COACH: Jared Bednar Hired: August 2016

With both Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram now graduated and dealt elsewhere, the Colorado Avalanche dropped five spots in our McKeen’s prospect rankings to finish well within the bottom 10 of the list.

That said, the 2024-25 season saw several of their young prospects make solid strides in their development. Ivan Ivan made a smooth transition to the AHL, posting 31 points, while Oskar Olausson (226th) matched his rookie totals (20 points) in nearly half the games during his sophomore season. Sean Behrens (169th) also made his professional debut with the Eagles’ after winning a National Championship while being named the NCAA (NCHC) Best Defensive Defenceman with Denver. Meanwhile, goaltender Justus Annunen (195th) continued to impress between the pipes, recording a 14-5-4 record to bring his career AHL ledger to a solid 60-29-19 through 114 games. Annunen is poised to officially graduate and become the backup goaltender for the Avalanche behind Alexandar Georgiev next season.

Away from the farm, the club’s top two rated prospects, Calum Ritchie and Mikhail Gulyayev, continue to develop well. Ritchie, who sits just inside McKeen’s top 50 at 48th, increased his stock with the Oshawa Generals, finishing with a career-high 80 points in 50 games. Gulyayev (64th), Colorado’s 2023 first-round pick, continues to log solid minutes as an 18-year-old (now 19) over in Russia. Both are progressing, but still far from arm's reach to directly contribute to the big club.

Although the Avalanche did not have a first-round pick in the 2024 Draft, they managed to inject a healthy dose of fresh talent into their pipeline by selecting nine prospects in total. Ilya Nabokov (250th), a double-overaged goaltender, offers a solid future option in net. Meanwhile, William Zellers could provide some low-key offensive upside down the road. Aside from them, the jury is still out on the remaining seven names.

With a top-flight core featuring Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Devon Toews, the Avalanche’s winning ways are likely to continue. However, some roster turnover should be expected over the next few seasons as the team looks to – no, needs to – graduate more of their younger players. First up is McKeen’s 77th-ranked prospect, Nikolai Kovalenko, who is expected to slot into the NHL lineup out of training camp.

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1. Cal Ritchie

Ritchie, the Avalanche's first-round pick (#27) in 2023, put together a dominant season with the Oshawa Generals. The 6-foot-0 center exploded offensively, putting up a career-high 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 50 games. This production came alongside a strong +45 plus/minus rating, showcasing his two-way awareness. While the gaudy numbers are impressive, it’s important to remain cautious. Ritchie's offensive outburst came in a sheltered role with the Generals, raising questions about his ability to translate that production against tougher competition. There are also concerns about his consistency – flashes of brilliance can be overshadowed by stretches of disappearing acts. Still, Ritchie's overall performance solidified his status as a top prospect. His skating and playmaking ability are undeniable, and his defensive awareness is improving. He'll likely spend another year in the OHL before turning pro but don't be surprised to see him pushing for a roster spot in Colorado sooner rather than later.

2. Mikhail Gulyayev

Drafted 18th overall in 2023, Gulyayev opted to stay in Russia in his DY+1. He spent the year honing his craft in the KHL with Omsk Avangard. He stood out there for a young defenceman, racking up 12 points in 64 games. His offensive prowess, particularly his transition ability, remains his calling card. Skating and mobility separate him from most of his age group peers. Explosive speed, a smooth utilization of crossovers, and a wonderfully fluid stride really pop out during transitions, guiding his team’s exits and entries, or executing give-and-go plays. However, questions about his defensive consistency persist. While he's not a liability in his own zone, there is a need to see a stronger showing in this area moving forward. Gulyayev's path remains unclear, especially since he’s signed through the 2025-26 season in the KHL. One thing's for sure: His offensive talent is undeniable. The key will be rounding out his game and proving he can be a reliable two-way force.

3. Nikolai Kovalenko

Kovalenko turned heads in the KHL in 2023-24. After signing an entry-level contract with Colorado but remaining in Russia on loan, the 24-year-old winger thrived for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He finished his KHL campaign strong, putting up 11 goals and 35 points in 42 games. Kovalenko's blend of size (6-foot-0, 192 pounds) and skill makes him a dangerous offensive threat. He can overpower defenders and possesses a knack for finding the net. He thrives in his small-area game, thanks to excellent hands and creativity. He stands out as a playmaker but is able to find the back of the net on his own too. However, questions linger about his overall consistency and defensive awareness. While flashes of brilliance exist, stretches of disappearing acts raise concerns. His performance will be crucial in determining his NHL readiness. Regardless, his KHL showing solidified his status as a top prospect.

4. Sean Behrens

Behrens solidified himself as a defensive cornerstone for the Denver Pioneers in 2023-24. The smooth-skating defenceman (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) led the team in blocked shots (58) and chipped in offensively with 31 points, ranking third among Denver's defencemen. His season wasn't without hiccups. A brief injury sidelined him for four games, and his consistency can occasionally waver. However, his strong two-way play earned him the NCHC's "Defensive Defenceman of the Year" award en route to the NCAA Championship where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Behrens' performance solidified his status as a potential top four NHL defenceman. He moves exactly as well as you’d want an undersized blueliner to move, and his mobility gives him upside as a transitional defenceman. His stride is extremely smooth and looks almost effortless when he’s picking up the puck in his own zone in order to lead a breakout. While questions about his offensive ceiling remain, his ability to shut down attackers and contribute on offence makes him a valuable prospect to watch.

5. Justus Annunen

Justus Annunen's 2023-24 campaign was a turning point. After splitting time between the AHL and NHL early on, the Finnish netminder solidified his place in Colorado with a late-season surge. In 14 NHL appearances, he boasted a strong 0.928 save percentage and a respectable 2.55 GAA. Even more impressive were his two shutouts, showcasing his ability to steal games. This strong showing earned him a two-year extension, signalling their confidence in him as a future starter. Questions remain – his sample size is small, and consistency will be key. But Annunen's composure and athleticism have fans and analysts alike buzzing. Could he be the heir apparent to the Avalanche crease? Only time will tell, but his 2023-24 performance was a promising step in that direction. Look for him to stick with the big club this season as the backup to Alexandar Georgiev.

6. Jean-Luc Foudy

Foudy's 2023-24 campaign was a glimpse of his potential but lacked consistency. Despite a strong showing in the AHL (14 points in 26 games), a brief NHL stint was forgettable (one goal in four games). Injuries played a role, limiting his overall development. His calling card remains his blend of size, skill, and skating. He can protect the puck and create scoring chances, as evidenced by his AHL success. However, translating that into the NHL will require more from him. Decision-making needs to be sharpened, and defensive awareness has to improve. Foudy's future hinges on refining his game. Another year in the AHL could be crucial. If he can elevate his all-around performance, a more permanent NHL role could be within reach. The Avalanche still views him as a valuable prospect, but the clock is ticking for him to solidify his spot.

7. Oskar Olausson

Olausson's 2023-24 campaign was a rollercoaster. After a decent start with 20 points in 39 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles, shoulder surgery abruptly ended his season. His offensive flash – a lethal shot and smooth hands – was evident. He displayed the tools that made him a first-round pick in 2021. Feed him the puck in the offensive zone and give him enough time and space and there's a good chance he'll make the other team pay, primarily through his hard, accurate release. Unfortunately, he runs into trouble creating scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, and his off puck play leaves a lot to be desired. There were stretches where he dominated, followed by stretches of disappearing acts. The injury throws a wrench into his development. While his offensive upside remains enticing, the key question remains: Can he find consistency and become a reliable producer? The 2024-25 season will be crucial in answering that question and determining his NHL arrival timeline.

8. Ilya Nabokov

Ilya Nabokov should have been drafted in 2023 based on his MHL All-Star performance, having posted impressive numbers over three seasons: 61-27-10 record, 0.930 SV%, and a 2.02 GAA. Instead, he had to wait - to the benefit of Colorado. In his draft year, Nabokov excelled in the KHL, quickly securing the starting role for Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He went 23-13-3 with a 0.930 SV% and a 2.15 GAA in 43 games and was even better in the playoffs with a 0.942 SV% and 1.82 GAA, earning Rookie of the Year, Playoff MVP, and helping his team win the Gagarin Cup. His seven shutouts highlight an outstanding year. Nabokov is technically sound and makes athletic saves when needed, always staying in position. While his mobility can be uneven and his rebound control needs improvement, his overall performance makes him a promising prospect.

9. Sam Malinski

Malinski's 2023-24 campaign was a grinder's delight. The Avalanche prospect spent most of the year with the Colorado Eagles, chipping in 27 points (5 goals, 22 assists) in 46 games while suiting up for his first 23 NHL games. While the point totals might not jump off the page, Malinski's value lies in his defensive acumen. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, he’s not the biggest but uses his frame effectively to protect the puck and clog passing lanes. His skating is a strength, allowing him to stay mobile and make plays in transition. However, offensive flashes remain inconsistent. There are moments where he displays a good shot and the ability to join the rush, but these are overshadowed by stretches of quiet play. The question is one of offensive development. Can he refine his offensive skillset and become a more consistent contributor at both ends? If he does, there is the potential to be a reliable bottom six defender in the NHL.

10. William Zellers

Zellers was a challenging prospect for NHL teams to evaluate in his draft year. He excelled at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and with Shattucks, showcasing high-end skill, vision, and competitiveness. His ability to consistently find the net and problem-solve is evident, but his NHL projection is complicated by his skating. Zellers relies on his hands and spatial awareness rather than dynamic speed. Although he’s agile and explosive on his edges, allowing him to exploit poor defensive coverage and cut into the slot, he isn’t as effective in linear skating. His quick release means he doesn’t need much space to score. However, there are questions about his overall skill level. If he can enhance his athleticism and physical tools over the next few years at North Dakota, his offensive abilities could make him a valuable complementary player in the NHL.

11. Ivan Ivan

Ivan Ivan made a strong impression in his first pro season, leading Colorado Eagles rookies with 12 goals, 19 assists, and 31 points in 67 AHL games. While his offensive skills are evident, his skating and defensive awareness need improvement. The Avalanche signed him to a two-year NHL deal, and although a full-time role this season seems unlikely, expect him to get NHL exposure. His future depends on refining his defensive game and translating his AHL success to the NHL.

12. Tory Pitner

Tory Pitner is a stay-at-home defenceman who excels in his role, demonstrated by his solid performance with the Youngstown Phantoms and his leadership in his draft year. At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, he uses his strength effectively to win battles and disrupt plays. His stick work and rush defence are strong, though he lacks offensive skill. Committed to the University of Denver for 2024-25, Pitner is expected to develop further. He has potential as a bottom-pairing shutdown defender.

13. Jake Fisher

Surprised that Fisher went undrafted last year despite being ranked 130th, he has since made a strong case for himself with Fargo, capturing a Clark Cup and returning to the draft radar. Fisher is a well-rounded center with good size, strong two-way play, a powerful shot, and improved skating. While he shows promise as a top NCAA player for the Denver Pioneers, his lack of a standout skill may limit his upside.

14. Maros Jedlicka

After being passed over in the NHL Draft twice, the Avalanche took a flier on Slovak forward Maros Jedlicka. After a strong showing in the 2023 camp, he ended up missing the entire season due to shoulder surgery. He’s heading to Czechia for the 2024-25 season, where the Avs hope that he can get right back on track in his development.

15. Matthew Steinburg

It’s been a long road for Matthew Steinburg who was drafted back in 2019 and then spent all four years in the NCAA before joining the AHL’s Colorado Eagles in 2023-24. He played more of a depth role, which does seem like the role he will stick with moving forward. He’s likely reached or is approaching his ceiling at this point.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #20 Colorado Avalanche – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Josh Bell — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:26:11 +0000

Oshawa Generals #21 Calum Ritchie. Photo by Brandon Taylor/ OHL Images

A Stanley Cup in the books, with an elite core at the beginning of their prime in Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen, who all rate among the very best at their position. The quest to return to the Stanley Cup Final was derailed by injuries (again) and a tough Dallas Stars team in the second round. General manager Chris MacFarland has proven that the focus is on winning now, moving future pieces for some help now. Acquiring Casey Mittelstadt for Bowen Byram looks like a win for both teams, and the Sean Walker deal was steep but looks solid as well. The faith is in the core though, with MacFarland locking down MacKinnon, Devon Toews, and Valeri Nichushkin to long-term deals.

The Avalanche still retain two of their next three first-round picks for the upcoming three seasons, but that is likely to change. After two earlier-than-expected playoff exits, expect some moves to come. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has been missed this season as he remains sidelined, especially in the playoffs, so if he can come back that would be a big addition on its own. For the young players in the system, Justus Annunen often looked not only like the goalie of the future, but the goaltender of now. Expect his games played to go up next season. Cal Ritchie looks like he might have been a steal, Nikolai Kovalenko is finally over in North America after another strong season in Russia, and Mikhail Gulyayev looks like a potential star. A strong 2023 NHL Draft with their two first-round picks (Ritchie and Gulyayev) went a long way to boost their organizational ranking.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Calum Ritchie	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	`23(27th)	50	28	52	80	20
2	Mikhail Gulyayev	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	`23(31st)	64	4	8	12	8
3	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	`18(171st)	42	11	24	35	30
4	Sean Behrens	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	`21(61st)	44	4	27	31	53
5	Jean-Luc Foudy	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	`20(75th)	26	4	10	14	18
6	Oskar Olausson	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	`21(28th)	39	11	9	20	24
7	Justus Annunen	G	24	6-4/210	Colorado (AHL)	`18(64th)	23	14	5	2.65	0.908
8	Sam Malinski	D	25	5-11/190	Colorado (AHL)	FA(3/23)	46	5	22	27	20
					Colorado (NHL)	FA(3/23)	23	3	7	10	6
9	Graham Sward	D	20	6-4/186	Wenatchee (WHL)	T(Nsh-3/24)	66	15	66	81	48
10	Ivan Ivan	C	21	6-0/190	Colorado (AHL)	FA(3/24)	67	12	19	31	20
11	Matt Stienburg	C	23	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`19(63rd)	54	5	8	13	63
12	Maros Jedlicka	C	21	6-2/194	HKM Zvolen (Slovakia) - DNP	`23(219th)	0	0	0	0	0
13	Alex Beaucage	RW	22	6-1/195	Utah (ECHL)	`19(78th)	29	11	14	25	26
					Colorado (AHL)	`19(78th)	21	1	6	7	6
14	Trent Miner	G	23	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`19(202nd)	18	9	6	2.10	0.930
15	Jason Polin	RW	24	6-0/195	Colorado (AHL)	FA(3/23)	42	4	6	10	21

1. Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Ritchie, the Colorado Avalanche's first-round pick (#27) in 2023, put together a dominant season with the Oshawa Generals. The 6-foot center exploded offensively, putting up a career-high 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 50 games. This production came alongside a strong +45 plus/minus rating, showcasing his two-way awareness. While the gaudy numbers are impressive, it’s important to remain cautious. Ritchie's offensive outburst came in a sheltered role with the Generals, raising questions about his ability to translate that production against tougher competition. There are also concerns about his consistency – flashes of brilliance can be overshadowed by stretches of disappearing acts. Still, Ritchie's overall performance solidified his status as a top prospect. His skating and playmaking ability are undeniable, and his defensive awareness is improving. He'll likely spend another year in the OHL before turning pro but don't be surprised to see him pushing for a roster spot in Colorado sooner rather than later.

2. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

Drafted 18th overall in 2023, Gulyayev opted to stay in Russia this season. He spent the year honing his craft in the KHL with Omsk Avangard. He stood out there for a young defenseman, racking up 12 points in 64 games. His offensive prowess, particularly his transition ability, remains his calling card. Skating and mobility separate him from most of his age group peers. Explosive speed, a smooth utilization of crossovers, and a wonderfully fluid stride really pop out during transitions, guiding his team’s exits and entries, or executing give-and-go plays. However, questions about his defensive consistency persist. While he's not a liability in his own zone, there is a need to see a stronger showing in this area moving forward. Gulyayev's path remains unclear, especially since he’s signed through the 2025-26 season in the KHL. One thing's for sure: His offensive talent is undeniable. The key will be rounding out his game and proving he can be a reliable two-way force.

3. Nikolai Kovalenko, RW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

Kovalenko turned heads in the KHL this season. After signing an entry-level contract with Colorado but remaining in Russia on loan, the 24-year-old winger thrived for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He finished his KHL campaign strong, putting up 11 goals and 35 points in 42 games. Kovalenko's blend of size (6’, 192 lbs) and skill makes him a dangerous offensive threat. He can overpower defenders and possesses a knack for finding the net. He thrives in his small-area game, thanks to excellent hands and creativity. He stands out as a playmaker but is able to find the back of the net on his own too. However, questions linger about his overall consistency and defensive awareness. While flashes of brilliance exist, stretches of disappearing acts raise concerns. His performance will be crucial in determining his NHL readiness. Regardless, his KHL showing solidified his status as a top prospect.

4. Sean Behrens, D, University of Denver (NCAA)

Behrens solidified himself as a defensive cornerstone for the Denver Pioneers in 2023-24. The smooth-skating defenseman (5’ 10”, 190 lbs) led the team in blocked shots (58) and chipped in offensively with 31 points, ranking third among Denver's defensemen. His season wasn't without hiccups. A brief injury sidelined him for four games, and his consistency can occasionally waver. However, his strong two-way play earned him the NCHC's "Defensive Defenseman of the Year" award en route to the NCAA Championship where he was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Behrens' performance solidified his status as a potential top-four NHL defenseman. He moves exactly as well as you’d want an undersized defenseman to move, and his mobility gives him upside as a transitional defenseman. His stride is extremely smooth and looks almost effortless when he’s picking up the puck in his own zone in order to lead a breakout. While questions about his offensive ceiling remain, his ability to shut down attackers and contribute on offense makes him a valuable prospect to watch.

5. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

6. Oskar Olausson, RW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Olausson's 2023-24 campaign was a rollercoaster. After a decent start with 20 points in 39 AHL games for the Colorado Eagles, shoulder surgery abruptly ended his season. His offensive flash – a lethal shot and smooth hands – was evident. He displayed the tools that made him a first-round pick in 2021. Feed him the puck in the offensive zone and give him enough time and space and there's a good chance he'll make the other team pay, primarily through his hard, accurate release. Unfortunately, he runs into trouble creating scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, and his-off puck play leaves a lot to be desired. There were stretches where he dominated, followed by stretches of disappearing acts. The injury throws a wrench into his development. While his offensive upside remains enticing, the key question remains: can he find consistency and become a reliable producer? This coming season will be crucial in answering that question and determining his NHL arrival timeline.

7. Justus Annunen, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Justus Annunen's 2023-24 campaign was a turning point. After splitting time between the AHL and NHL early on, the Finnish netminder solidified his place in Colorado with a late-season surge. In 14 NHL appearances, he boasted a strong .928 save percentage and a respectable 2.55 GAA. Even more impressive were his two shutouts, showcasing his ability to steal games. This strong showing earned him a two-year extension, signaling their confidence in him as a future starter. Questions remain – his sample size is small, and consistency will be key. But Annunen's composure and athleticism have fans and analysts alike buzzing. Could he be the heir apparent to the Avalanche crease? Only time will tell, but his 2023-24 performance was a promising step in that direction.

8. Sam Malinski, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Malinski's 2023-24 campaign was a grinder's delight. The Avalanche prospect spent most of the year with the Colorado Eagles, chipping in 27 points (5 goals, 22 assists) in 46 games, while suiting up for his first 23 NHL games. While the point totals might not jump off the page, Malinski's value lies in his defensive acumen. At 5’ 1” and 190 lbs, he’s not the biggest but uses his frame effectively to protect the puck and clog passing lanes. His skating is a strength, allowing him to stay mobile and make plays in transition. However, offensive flashes remain inconsistent. There are moments where he displays a good shot and the ability to join the rush, but these are overshadowed by stretches of quiet play. The question is one of offensive development. Can he refine his offensive skillset and become a more consistent contributor at both ends? If he does, there is the potential to be a reliable bottom six defender in the NHL.

9. Graham Sward, D, Wenatchee Wild (WHL)

Graham Sward is a physical and skilled defenseman with a well-rounded game. He took a huge step forward this season with the Wenatchee Wild, putting up 81 points (15 goals, 66 assists) in 66 games and nearly doubling the output from his rookie season that led to the Avs drafting him. He excels in his own end, using his quick feet and active stick to shut down opponents' attacks and clear the zone with ease. His vision and anticipation allow him to spark transition play, and his accurate shot makes him a threat from the point. He's also a physical presence, using his size and strength to win battles and protect his teammates. With continued development, Sward has the potential to become a top-four defenseman and a key contributor on the Colorado Avalanche's blue line. His upside as a reliable, two-way defender makes him an intriguing prospect in the Avs' pipeline.

10. Ivan Ivan, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

Ivan Ivan, a name that lives up to the hype (and then some), turned heads in his first pro season. Leading all Colorado Eagles rookies in goals (12), assists (19), and points (31) in 67 AHL games, his offensive production was undeniable. But is he all flash and no substance? His skating is a work in progress, and questions linger about his defensive awareness. However, his ability to create offense and find teammates in scoring positions is undeniable. The Avalanche rewarded Ivan with a two-year NHL deal. While a full-time role seems unlikely next season, expect him to get a taste of the big leagues. His ceiling hinges on his development as a well-rounded player. Can he refine his defensive game and translate his offensive dominance to the NHL? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: He is a prospect worth watching.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #29 – Colorado Avalanche

Derek Neuemeier — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:15:38 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 29^th

A Stanley Cup in the books, with an elite core at the beginning of their prime in MacKinnon, Makar and Rantanen, who all rate among the very best at their position. Their quest to repeat was derailed by injuries and a surprising Seattle team in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. They have graduated three first rounders from 2018 (Martin Kaut, 16th) and 2019 (Bowen Byram, 4^th and Alex Newhook, 16^th) and traded another in Justin Barron for Artturi Lehkonen, who was a useful piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle. They have done a good job of development, but the pipeline is not deep at this point. Surpising Nikolai Kovalenko had a tremendous year but remains in Russia. Jean Luc-Foudy has exceeded expectations nicely as a third-round pick and may be close to the NHL in the next two years.

The Avalanche still retain their first-round picks for the upcoming three seasons, but that is likely to change. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is slated to miss all of next season, along with some other glaring holes that remained unfulfilled by last season departing free agents, most notably Nazem Kadiri. The hope had been that Alex Newhook would be able to step into the second line role, but he struggled to carry that load. It is unlikely the Avalanche will risk that chance again and look for them to be active with the resources they have. By the time they picked in 2022, it was in the sixth round. They only have four picks for 2023, so you can count on a similar scenario.

Sean Behrens

Nikolai Kovalenko

The son of former NHLer Andrei Kovalenko, Nikolai took a massive leap forward this season in the KHL. Joining his third different team in three years, which could have gone poorly, turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered, as his scoring totals exploded with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. He had the highest point-per-game total among all KHL players under the age of 25 and was the top scorer on his team. With his NHL bloodlines and being a two-time MHL champion, the foundation was always there for him to break out as a pro, but this much success was a surprise. He loves to have the puck on his stick and lead play driving, and repeatedly attacks the opposing net with pace and purpose. He should be ready for a role with Colorado whenever he decides that he wants to cross the pond.

2. Jean-Luc Foudy

Foudy has always had elite speed, and he is a fascinating case study for how far a prospect can go when they have that one defining trait in particular. It took him some time to really understand how to translate that dangerous tool into actual scoring results and not just wasted energy, but he seems to have figured it out now, producing at nearly a point-per-game clip this year. His hands and vision have notably caught up a lot with his feet, which not only help him do more actual damage when he creates separation space for himself, they also allow him to have more of an impact when the play has to slow down, especially on the powerplay. He'll be a full-time NHLer soon enough, and it's scary to think of how well he could mesh with the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

3. Sean Behrens

If Behrens were a little bigger he would have gone a lot higher than 61^st overall in the 2021 draft. You'd be hard-pressed to find a single scout who has seen him who wouldn't make time for him and how he plays, but the question has always been around how likely it is that he can become an impact player in the NHL. Defensemen his age don't get much more smart or competitive, he never seems to back down from a challenge, and the brighter the spotlight, the better he plays (see: Denver's 2022 NCAA championship). He competes hard in all three zones and rarely makes any mistakes. The lack of size, the lack of high-end skating, and the lack of true offensive pop make him a little hard to project at the sport's highest level, however, underestimate him at your own peril.

4. Oskar Olausson

There's no denying that Olausson has talent, but the actual results of his play have been quite inconsistent since his draft year. Feed him the puck in the offensive zone and give him enough time and space and there's a good chance he'll make the other team pay, primarily through the hard, accurate release of his wrist shots and one-timers. Unfortunately, he runs into troubles creating scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates, and his-off puck play leaves a lot to be desired. Puck watching and low pace are two bad habits that have persisted for a while and still need to be corrected. In fairness, he has played in six different leagues spread across three different countries over the past three seasons, which surely made it harder to really get his game to the highest level that it could be at right now.

5. Justus Annunen

As much of a built-in advantage that large goalies can have when it comes to naturally taking up a lot of the net, the challenge is supplementing that size with enough corresponding quickness, athleticism, flexibility and reflexes. That's the challenge that Annunen has been trying to overcome ever since his draft year, and while progress has undeniably been made, there is still a lot of work left to do. He relies on a pretty straightforward blocking style of goaltending, keeping focused on what's happening in front of him, trying to stay square to shooters, and letting his butterfly do the work. However, if teams can get him moving around in the crease, they can open him up, and they figure that out quickly. Colorado is thin for prospect goaltending depth, so Annunen will keep getting starts in the AHL to see how much progress he can make.

6. Ben Meyers

The Avalanche signed Meyers straight out of college in 2022, he scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game, and while he wasn't actually eligible to play for Colorado during their Stanley Cup championship run it must have been both a surreal and valuable experience being around that team. Now in his first full year as a pro he is firmly a part of their attempt at a repeat. He is a sharp-minded forward who never takes a shift off and works hard for every inch of his ice. While he doesn't generate a lot of offense or really excel in a defensive role, a coach can send him over the boards with a lot of trust. The hope is that Meyers can elevate his game to the kind of high level it reached at the end of his time in the NCAA.

7. Sampo Ranta

Ranta now has 18 total NHL games under his belt between the regular season and the playoffs but is still searching for his first career point at that level. Colorado probably isn't too concerned about that, though, and will likely keep giving him looks because he has produced offense at lower levels and has a combination of attributes that should lead to further results. He has long, strong skating strides that can create separation moving north or south, he can use his frame and reach to fend off opponents and possesses some finishing touch. That, really, is his game in a nutshell, and he hasn't diversified it much or added layers to it, even going back as far as his draft year. He knows what he is and sticks to what he knows, which can be both a good and a bad thing at times.

8. Ryan Merkley

The enigmatic Merkley struggled to live up to his potential while he was a member of the Sharks organization, and requested a trade just four and a half years after San Jose used a 1st-round pick on him. The good news is that his wish was granted. The bad news is that he is struggling just as much as he did before, if not moreso. He was drafted in the 1^st round in 2018 because of his superb offensive vision, puck skill, playmaking and shot, despite red flags with his discipline and defending. To succeed he always needed his pros to shine enough to outweigh his cons, but ever since turning pro that hasn't happened. His skills aren't translating. The clock is ticking, and Merkley is running out of time to figure these problems out find a way to prove that he belongs in the NHL.

9. Alex Beaucage

Beaucage has been pretty quiet in his two years since turning pro, but there were times in the QMJHL where he was able to really elevate his game and sometimes even looked like one of the best players in the league, so the Avalanche are hoping that he will be able to figure out how to reach those kinds of levels again. He is a toolsy winger with size, though his goal-scoring really stands out as his biggest asset. His shot can be outright terrifying and unstoppable on occasion. The challenge for him now is fully understanding the difference between scoring goals at the two different levels, as he has less time and space to work with now and can't shrug off opposing defenders as easily as before. Utilizing his size better would also be a welcome change. Beaucage is a prospect worth being patient for.

10. Colby Ambrosio

Ambrosio led his USHL team in goals and points in his draft year as a 17-year-old and was a dynamic force, so it's a bit of a mystery as to why he hasn't been able to find a similar level of effectiveness yet after three years at Boston College. He's a quick player, but not necessarily a fast one, and that distinction is important. He can use his quickness to capitalize on small windows of opportunity created by lucky bounces or small mistakes, but he isn't really adept at creating opportunities at this level. And if he can't do it in the NCAA, how will he be able to do it in the NHL? As easy as it is to commend Ambrosio's high pace and work rate, those attributions can only do so much when a player has a natural size disadvantage.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 Prospect Rankings – Risers and Fallers

Brock Otten — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:51:54 +0000

As we release the 2022/23 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook, it is time to reflect back on the last calendar year to see which NHL prospects have raised their stock the most…and which have seen their stock fall.

If you recall, in last year’s yearbook our top rated prospect was Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras. He went on to finish second in Calder Trophy voting to our former sixth rated prospect, Moritz Seider. Our second rated prospect last year, Buffalo’s Owen Power, makes a return appearance on the list and is now our number one ranked prospect in hockey. Where will Power ultimately rank in Calder trophy voting at the end of the 2023 season?

First, let’s look at some of the prospects whose strong seasons propelled them up our top prospect’s list (organized by last year’s ranking):

You can access the full list by linking here.

Risers

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 05: Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (22) skates with the puck during the first period in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on October 5, 2021, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Jack Quinn - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (37 to 11)

The 2022 AHL Rookie of the Year, Quinn emerged as one of the top forward prospects outside of the NHL last season; a bounce back campaign after an injury plagued rookie pro year. Quinn’s high IQ, terrific shot, and strong two-way acumen makes him not only a near shoe-in to be a top nine NHL forward, but also a strong Calder trophy candidate this season.

Xavier Bourgault - Edmonton Oilers

Movement: (60 to 27)

The 22nd overall selection in 2021, Bourgault had a terrific post draft season, helping to lead Shawinigan to a QMJHL Championship. The talented winger has worked hard to round out his offensive profile and will begin his pro career this season in the Oilers system.

Brennan Othmann - Flint Firebirds

Movement: (78 to 33)

The list of players who have scored 50 goals in their 19 year old post NHL draft OHL season is not extremely long. The competitive goal scorer can hammer the puck and his combination of tenaciousness and scoring ability is rare among prospects.

JJ Peterka - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (80 to 22)

Peterka is coming off the best U20 season in the AHL in this millennium, beating Patrice Bergeron, who scored 61 points in 2005 and Mikko Rantanen, who scored 60 in 2016. That’s some impressive company. His speed and offensive awareness make him a potential star for the Sabres.

ABBOTSFORD, BC - SEPTEMBER 27: Calgary Flames Left Wing Jakob Pelletier (49) plays the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during their NHL preseason game at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on September 27, 2021 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Devin Manky/Icon Sportswire)

Jakob Pelletier - Calgary Flames

Movement: (89 to 39)

Entering his first pro season with Stockton, the offensive upside of the smaller, but tenacious former first round pick was a bit of a mystery. However, he passed his first test with flying colours by averaging nearly a point per game with Stockton and now has positioned himself to earn a spot with Calgary this season.

Kirill Marchenko - Columbus Blue Jackets

Movement: (91 to 37)

The big Russian winger will finally make the trek to North America this season where he has a good shot of cracking Columbus’ top nine. Another solid goal scoring year in the KHL has him moving up our list.

Mavrik Bourque - Dallas Stars

Movement: (99 to 31)

Like Bourgault, Bourque captured a QMJHL Championship with Shawinigan last season. However, Bourque was the MVP of the playoffs and had a terrific Memorial Cup to boot. He is one of the smartest prospects outside of the NHL and has progressed extremely well since being drafted.

Scott Perunovich - St. Louis Blues

Movement: (102 to 43)

After an injury wiped out Perunovich’s first pro season, he was excellent in his “true” debut last year, split between the NHL and AHL. He looks like an offensive star in the making on the blueline and his NHL metrics were terrific in a limited role.

Logan Stankoven - Dallas Stars

Movement: (104 to 30)

Maybe Stankoven should have been drafted earlier in 2021? The early results have been spectacular for the undersized forward. He was the 2022 CHL Player of the Year and was a key player for Canada at the recent WJC’s during their race to a gold medal.

Olen Zellweger - Anaheim Ducks

Movement: (119 to 28)

Speaking of players who should have been selected higher, insert the dynamic Zellweger. Not only was Zellweger the WHL’s top defenseman this past season, but he was one of the best at the recent WJC’s, playing a top pairing role for Canada. He has already emerged as one of the top defensive prospects on the planet.

Brock Faber - Minnesota Wild

Movement: (142 to 72)

The major piece in the Kevin Fiala trade, Faber moved from the Kings to the hometown Wild. He will return to the University of Minnesota for his junior year but his work internationally for the United States has really turned heads in the scouting community.

Dustin Wolf - Calgary Flames

Movement: (154 to 45)

Never underestimate the smaller netminder. How Wolf would adjust to the AHL level was a bit of a mystery, coming off back to back WHL goaltender of the year awards. He passed the test with flying colours, capturing the AHL’s goaltender of the year award too. Is the next step the Vezina?

Wyatt Johnston - Dallas Stars

Movement: (158 to 16)

Easily one of the OHL’s most improved players last season, Johnston dominated the league on route to capturing a Red Tilson trophy as the league’s top player. He controls the play at both ends of the ice and will push for a roster spot in Dallas sooner, rather than later.

Luke Evangelista - Nashville Predators

Movement: (189 to 67)

Not only was Evangelista the OHL’s goal scoring leader last season, but he worked hard to improve his play without the puck and strength on it. By becoming a more consistently dangerous player, he has greatly improved his projection as an NHL player.

Bobby Brink - Philadelphia Flyers

Movement: (201 to 64)

A finalist for the Hobey Baker last season, Brink helped the University of Denver capture an NCAA title. There are still some concerns over his skating, but he’s just so skilled and intelligent. Unfortunately, Brink underwent hip surgery in late July and will miss a large majority of his first pro season.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov (52) against the New York Rangers during Game 6 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on May 28, 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Pyotr Kochetkov - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (235 to 71)

The former high second round selection is coming off a season that saw him establish himself as one of the elite goaltending prospects in hockey. Ignore the challenges in the NHL playoffs after he was thrust into the role. Focus on how dominant he was at the AHL level and in the KHL before crossing the pond.

Jordan Spence - Los Angeles Kings

Movement: (249 to 62)

How can you not be impressed with what Spence was able to do in his first pro season? He dominated the AHL level and even looked right at home in the NHL across 24 games (barely keeping his Calder eligibility). There is no doubt that he processes the game well enough to provide an offensive spark from the blueline at the NHL level.

Devon Levi - Buffalo Sabres

Movement: (279 to 34)

The player who makes the largest jump in our rankings, Levi has been remarkable over the last twelve months, establishing himself as one of the top goaltending prospects on the planet. He was this past year’s Mike Richter award winner as the top goalie in the NCAA. His play tracking and positioning are elite.

Matthew Knies - Toronto Maple Leafs

Movement: (283 to 61)

A power winger coming off of a tremendous freshman season with the University of Minnesota, Knies is proving that he should have been drafted higher in 2021. He will return as a sophomore and expectations will be high.

Arseni Gritsyuk - New Jersey Devils

Movement: (NR to 63)

The KHL’s rookie of the year last season, Gritsyuk was remarkable for Avangard Omsk across the regular season and playoffs. He also helped Russia win a silver medal at the Olympics. The former fifth round pick has quickly gone from an under the radar mystery to one of the top young players in Europe.

Scott Morrow - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (NR to 74)

An enigma as a draft eligible player, Morrow was thought of as a high upside, but project selection in 2021. However, his performance as a freshman for UMass was terrific, finishing second in team scoring as a defender. The key moving forward will be his development as a defensive player, but the skating ability and skill level are dynamic.

Now let’s look at some of the prospects who fell down our list for various reasons. These are organized according to their rank in last year’s yearbook:

Fallers

Victor Soderstrom - Arizona Coyotes

Movement: (26 to 111)

The 11th overall pick in 2019, Soderstrom has yet to find his way to a full time NHL role, despite limited talent and depth in Arizona. His play in the AHL hasn’t been poor, but it hasn’t been eye opening either. A mobile, two-way defender, one has to wonder if his NHL upside is truly significant. He still looks like a future NHL defender, but it might be in more of a supporting role and not a lead one.

Chaz Lucius - Winnipeg Jets

Movement: (36 to 144)

Realistically, part of this fall comes from a likely overrank by us in last year’s yearbook. The other part comes from an average freshman year with the University of Minnesota that saw him battle injuries yet again. Now Lucius has left college after only one year, despite the fact that he might not be ready for the AHL. Does Winnipeg find a spot in the WHL for him to help him improve his quickness and strength, while also respecting his injury history?

Connor Zary - Calgary Flames

Movement: (45 to 266)

Heading into this season, his first as a pro, there was already some concern that Zary’s development had plateaued in the WHL. After a poor rookie year with Stockton, the concerns over his quickness and pace appear even more real. Is Zary going to be more than a potential third line center? This will be a big season for him.

Justin Barron - Montreal Canadiens

Movement: (64 to 164)

Now a member of the Montreal Canadiens after coming over from Colorado in the Lehkonen trade, Barron didn’t have a poor first pro season. However, at this point, what have injuries done to his development? He even missed the end of the past season with an ankle injury, preventing him from finishing out the year with Montreal in the NHL. The athletic tools are enticing, but he might end up settling into more of a supporting role as a pro without high end processing ability.

Oskar Olausson - Colorado Avalanche

Movement: (67 to 245)

Expectations were very high for Olausson as he signed on to play in the OHL a year ago. However, his OHL season was not an impressive one, split between Barrie and Oshawa. He struggled with decision making and shot selection, which makes one wonder about the likelihood of him reaching his middle six upside as a pro.

Ozzy Wiesblatt - San Jose Sharks

Movement: (68 to 216)

Granted, Prince Albert (WHL) was a pretty low scoring team this year, but any time a 20-year CHL player takes a step backwards offensively, it rings alarm bells. This is especially true considering Wiesblatt has always been considered more of a high energy, middle six type. Now, his projection looks like more of a high energy, bottom six type.

Jacob Bernard Docker - Ottawa Senators

Movement: (92 to Honorable Mention)

The offensive production and confidence have not translated to the pro level since JBD has turned pro. He’s still a solid presence in the defensive zone, but he is also in danger of being passed by others on the depth chart. At this point, is JBD more than a potential bottom six defender?

John Beecher - Boston Bruins

Movement: (109 to 234)

Beecher, unquestionably, still looks like a future NHL center. The combination of size, physicality, and quickness is still likely to make him a contributor in some way. However, the offensive game just never developed at Michigan, and he now turns pro. He could move quickly through Boston’s system, but the upside is likely quite limited.

Noel Gunler - Carolina Hurricanes

Movement: (113 to 242)

The big winger is actually coming off his best season to date in the SHL and showed glimpses of greatness at the end of the year in the AHL. However, consistency remains a big issue for him, the same as it was when he was drafted early in the second round in 2020. At this point, we just aren’t as comfortable ranking him highly and prefer others in that top 200 range.

William Stromgren - Calgary Flames

Movement: (116 to Honorable Mention)

It is way too early to give up on Stromgen considering he was only recently drafted by Calgary, but they have to be somewhat discouraged by his post draft year where he failed to reach the point per game mark in the Swedish J20 league and failed to secure a more permanent role in the SHL. The speedy sniper will look to take the next step this year, however, he remains a long-term project.

David Farrance - NHL Free Agent

Movement: (134 to Not Ranked)

The former Boston University standout did not get a qualifying offer from Nashville and remains an NHL free agent after signing an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves. The former Hobey Baker finalist’s first pro season was not an impressive one and he will now have to fight an uphill battle to become prospect relevant again.

Michael Dipietro - Vancouver Canucks

Movement: (144 to Honorable Mention)

Dipietro’s development path has been less than traditional thus far. The Canucks’ decision to keep him on the pandemic taxi squad, rather than have him get consistent starts in the AHL, remains a head scratcher. The relationship between him and Canucks management seems strained too. Dipietro still has NHL potential, but he needs to show that he can be a quality and consistent AHL netminder first.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:22:39 +0000

SAINT PAUL, MN - APRIL 29: Colorado Avalanche Left Wing Ben Meyers (59) lines up for a faceoff during the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild on April 29th, 2022, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Bowen Byram D

Byram barely keeps his eligibility for our list because he was limited this past season due to a very serious concussion that caused him to step away from the Avalanche for an extended period. He recovered in time to play a large part in Colorado’s Stanley Cup victory, playing well over 20 minutes per game in the Championship series against Tampa Bay. Byram can impact the game in so many different ways. He excels as a puck mover because of his high-end skating ability. Byram is not only an effortless mover in all four directions, but he is explosive moving forward, making him a very difficult player to pin down. His decision making with the puck and game management were inconsistent early on in his NHL career, but he has worked hard to improve this. Byram has also worked hard to be a better defensive player and a more imposing physical presence. This was evident in the playoffs, where he really stepped up his physicality to become a suffocating defensive player. Moving forward, the sky is the limit for Byram, so long as he can stay healthy. He has had trouble doing so in his career thus far, but if he can avoid injuries, he should emerge as a top four defender on the Avalanche this coming season (even with their depth) and have his best season to date. - BO

2 - Sean Behrens D

A late second-round pick at the 2021 draft, Sean Behrens quickly silenced any who might have doubted how well his game would work at the college level. Behrens’ five-foot-ten frame didn’t stop him from authoring an excellent freshman campaign, a season that culminated in him winning the NCAA National Championship with the University of Denver. Behrens’ prospect profile shares a lot of similarities with another undersized defenseman, New York Rangers prospect Zac Jones. Like Jones, the two traits of Behrens’ game that stand out the most are his skating and his intelligence. Behrens moves exactly as well as you’d want an undersized defenseman to move, and his mobility gives him upside as a transitional defenseman. Behrens’ stride is extremely smooth and looks almost effortless when he’s picking up the puck in his own zone in order to lead a breakout. Behrens can also be often found reading the play, scanning to see where the best options are and where he can best position himself to help his team. It’s always said that the best players are the ones who go to where the game will be, rather than where it is at any given moment, and Behrens is in the right place at the right time often enough to confidently say he sees the game at a higher level than many of his peers. Will he ever be a dominating two-way force? It’s unlikely, but a future as a top-four, puck-moving defenseman with an offensive bent isn’t out of the question. He’ll just need to get into more high-pressure defensive situations and gain as much confidence and fearlessness in his own end as he has when he’s attacking. - EH

3 - Ben Meyers C

After a highly successful three-year career at the University of Minnesota, center Ben Meyers was the big prize of the 2022 NCAA free agent signing cycle. Meyers, who went undrafted despite two promising seasons as an overager in the USHL, was a centerpiece player at a top NCAA program, even captaining the Gophers as a senior. Meyers’ highly productive senior season earned him caps for the United States men’s teams at the Beijing Olympics and IIHF World Championships. Meyers got into five NHL games with the Avalanche and managed to score his first NHL goal. Meyers has been a past-first center for most of his college career, although he did show off better goal-scoring touch in his final season as a Gopher. As a five-foot-eleven center, Meyers doesn’t offer the prototypical size many in the NHL look for out of their pivots, but he has the offensive flair to make up for it. Meyers’ toolset as a chance creator was on display for all to see last season, and it’s good enough to give him upside as a secondary scorer in the NHL. Meyers’ defense isn’t where he’ll carve out his niche, but that isn’t without trying. Meyers has a solid work ethic, but whether he can stick as a center in the NHL won’t be up to how hard he works, but instead how well he can match up against the high-end scoring centers he’ll face in the NHL. If Meyers spends next season in the NHL, he’ll be a 24-year-old rookie, meaning much of his development has already been completed. If he’s close to a finished product, the package of skills he currently puts forth is likely good enough to give him a chance as a middle-of-the-lineup player who can complement more talented offensive teammates in a pinch. - EH

4 - Oskar Olausson RW

The 28th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Oskar Olausson has had quite the journey since being drafted, but has been able to find success and produce wherever he plays. During the 2020-2021 season, Olausson spent time in three different leagues and was able to adapt well and still find a way to produce. Olausson spent 16 games in the J20 league finishing with 27 points (14G,13A), 16 games in the SHL and finishing with 4 points (3G,1A), and also 11 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan where he finished with 6 points (3G,3A). Olausson also got the opportunity to play in the U20 World Junior Championship. During the 2021-2022 season, Olausson spent time split between both the Barrie Colts and Oshawa Generals, finishing with 49 points (26G,23A) in 55 games, which was 4th on the team for points and 3rd on the team for goals. Olausson’s best assets are his shot and hockey sense. Olausson’s shot is a threat from most areas on the ice, but his ability to fire a cannon of a one-timer is where he’s best. He gets a lot of power and control on his shots, and he understands how to get the most out of it. He also has a great understanding of what he’s good at and knowing how to maximize his strengths. He shows a great understanding of awareness in the offensive zone, knowing where and when to get into open space for a shot, reading the play very well. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Olausson will make his return to the AHL and look to take a step forward and become a scoring threat in the league. - DK

5 - Martin Kaut RW

The clock feels like it’s ticking quickly for Colorado’s 2018 1^st round pick. Having gone 16^th overall that year, the Czech-born Kaut seemed to be on the fast track to making an organizational impact when he immediately jumped to North America and put in a solid rookie season in the AHL accompanied by a nice WJC performance in the 18-19 season. This came on the heels of having spent his draft year playing in Czechia’s top men’s league. His development continued in an upward trajectory in the shortened 19-20 season, where he got into nine NHL games, scoring his first two goals while his AHL stats improved slightly. Expectations were that he’d be prime candidate for an NHL spot during the 20-21 season, which ultimately saw him spend time on the taxi squad as well as the AHL, Czech Republic, and Sweden, featuring decent stats in each of the latter three stations. The 21-22 season presented a new challenge as Kaut went down with a shoulder injury in November. Finally, having picked up the pace a bit in the skating department, the injury threw him back a month after he had gotten into six straight games with the Avalanche, something that didn’t happen again for the rest of the season. A healthy playoff contributor for the AHL squad (five points and +7 in nine games), Kaut’s regular season PPG pace dropped from the season before, even if he did put up a career-high 19 goals. The task at hand is to now crack the line-up of a Stanley Cup winner. In this final year of his ELC, he may benefit from the team’s loss of players such as Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky, but any way you put it, he’s staring at a make-or-break-it season. - CL

6 - Nikolai Kovalenko RW

Nikolai Kovalenko seems to be one of the most likable Russian prospects, yet at the same time one of the most unluckiest of them: while the 2020-21 season had gone totally awry because he found himself in the coach’s doghouse and had to change teams in the offseason, last season, after a solid start, practically ended for him in October after a bad collision with an opposing player, which resulted in a major concussion, sideling him for two months. Once he returned, he just wasn’t the same player. As a consequence, this offseason his team decided that he wouldn’t be as helpful to them as they sought and so they traded him away, this time to Torpedo, which is a rather mediocre team coached by a former NHLer Igor Larionov. On the bright side, the move likely means that Kovalenko is expected to be among the leaders for his new team, possibly even wearing the ‘C’. Upon arrival to Torpedo, Kovalenko extended his contract through the 2023/24 season, which might be not something the Avalanche fans would like, but makes sense for the player, as the main goal for the coming season is both modest and important – to prove that the concussion didn’t ruin his potential. If he succeeds in achieving that goal his hard-working, tenacious, yet still creative playing style can result in a middle-six winger role in the NHL, just maybe a bit later than initially expected. - VF

7 - Justus Annunen G

A hulking 6’4”, 210 lbs., Annunen has been Colorado’s heir apparent for several years now and is coming off his most promising overall season since he was drafted. While his 24-13-5 record for the AHL Colorado Eagles couldn’t hide his 3.01 GAA and .893 save percentage, he picked things up in the playoffs with a 2.46 GAA and .923 save percentage, his best numbers since jumping over to North America. Annunen’s AHL performance earned him a two-game audition with the Avalanche, in which he registered a win and an overtime loss despite mediocre performances. The very athletic Annunen showed improvement to some degree in all departments requiring refinement, such as his movement from post-to-post. He also improved on his already strong puck-tracking abilities. Adept at using his incredible size to stay square to shooters, he continues to show a heavy tendency to spend time on his knees once a shot has been fired and until the whistle blows, even when hugging the post, leaving a hole for shots between his helmet and the crossbar. With the Colorado crease looking like a game of musical chairs in recent seasons, this might be the year Annunen gets a real shot with the reigning champion, especially as the team will kick things off this season with two goalies who have primarily been back-ups thus far in their careers. – CL

8 - Jean-Luc Foudy C

Things haven’t been extremely easy for Foudy the last two seasons. The dynamic skating forward was thrust into the AHL earlier than he was ready due to the cancellation of the 2020-21 OHL season, then continued in the AHL this year, even though he was eligible to return to the OHL. Was this best for his development? You could certainly argue that returning to a strong team in Windsor (who would win the OHL’s Western Conference title) would have been better for his development. Instead, he continued to struggle with consistency, posting a similar point per game average to the year prior. Foudy, much like his brother Liam, is a truly electric skater. He is lightning quick and he can drive play with his feet unlike many at any level. However, it is the rest of his game that remains a work in progress. That includes his play away from the puck, his decision making with it, his strength on the puck and his ability to play through the middle of the ice. However, it is easy to forget how young Foudy is. Under normal circumstances he would be entering into his first AHL season next year. Instead, the 20-year-old will be starting his third. In this year’s AHL playoffs, he was one of Colorado’s best players and that bodes well for the coming year, where he hopefully takes that next step forward and puts himself in contention for a call-up to the Avalanche. - BO

9 - Matthew Stienburg C

A bit of a late bloomer physically, Stienburg suffered through osteomyelitis as a teenager. As such, he’s taken a longer route to relevance as an NHL prospect. First it was St. Andrew’s College, then Cornell, then a year off with the Ivy League not playing during the pandemic. Stienburg returned with a vengeance this past season, leading Cornell in scoring. The power center plays a game tailored for a future bottom six role with the Avalanche. He competes physically. He uses his size to drive the net and dominate near the crease. He plays a 200-foot game. The key for him will be the continued development of his skating. Stienburg will return to Cornell again in 2022-23 and he should continue to be one of the better players in the Ivy League. After that, he would be likely to turn pro in a fairly shallow Colorado system, although returning to Cornell again in 2023-24 is absolutely not out of the question. Logan O’Connor, a similar kind of player, moved very quickly through the system to take on a permanent role with the Avalanche and if all goes according to plan, Stienburg could do the same. - BO

10 - Danila Zhuravlyoy D

Drafted in the fifth round in 2018, Colorado has been very patient with Danila Zhuravylov’s development as he has worked his way up to KHL regular. While his offensive development has been limited, he has become a strong defensive presence in Russia and as such, the Avalanche opted to sign him and bring him into the fold this year. Zhuravylov’s best quality is his mobility. He is not a big defender by any means, but he is effective defensively because of how quick he is to close gaps and how effective he is at defending pace. More of a positional, stick on puck defender, Zhuravylov can play that steady defensive first game, perhaps partnering with a more offensively oriented defender. That said, the KHL can sometimes hide the offensive talents of young defenders and if he can gain confidence in his play with the puck and ability to use his skating ability to be a puck carrier, perhaps Zhuravylov does have two-way upside. As is, he looks like a potential third pairing defender who can handle penalty killing assignments and be a steady, yet unspectacular presence. More will be known about his NHL upside and the likelihood of reaching it after his season with Colorado of the AHL this year. - BO

11 -Sampo Ranta

A speedy winger with size, Ranta was a major disappointment in his first full pro season. It is starting to look like his NHL upside might be capped.

12 - Mikhail Maltsev

Acquired from New Jersey in the Ryan Graves deal, Maltsev is a big winger with some skill who is close to being ready to take on a full-time role in the NHL with the Avalanche.

13 - Ivan Zhigalov

The big Belarussian netminder was one of our highest ranked goaltenders for the draft this year. He is athletic, but very raw. Zhigalov will play in Kingston of the OHL this year after spending last year in the QMJHL.

14 - Colby Ambrosio

An undersized, but skilled center, Ambrosio plays for Boston College. He is entering his junior season and will be looking to improve his production by becoming better off the puck and stronger on it.

15 - Tyler Weiss

Is Weiss even still Colorado property? Remains to be seen. He could return to UNO for another year (because of the pandemic), which would extend the Avalanche’s rights to him. Weiss is a skilled forward with an attacking mentality.

16 - Andrei Buyalsky

Buyalsky’s freshman season at Vermont was almost entirely wiped out by injury. The highly skilled forward will look to get his development back on track as a sophomore this year.

17 - Alex Beaucage

Beaucage, a big winger with a big shot, struggled in his first taste of pro hockey last season. Adapting to the increased pace of play was an issue for him. A rebound season in his second year would really help the Colorado system.

18 - Shane Bowers

A former first round selection by Ottawa, Bowers was a key piece in the Matt Duchene deal several moons ago. Thus far he has yet to look like an NHL player at the AHL level and now will need to clear waivers to be sent to the Eagles.

19 - Wyatt Aamodt

A dependable, stay at home defender, Aamodt was signed by the Avalanche this offseason after four years at Minnesota State University.

20 - Callahan Burke

The former University of Notre Dame captain was originally playing in Colorado (AHL) on a minor league deal, but the Avs scooped him up halfway through this year, signing him to an ELC. A solid energy player and penalty killer, Burke could one day become a Logan O’Connor type.

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Preview

Zack Szweras — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 13:26:09 +0000

World Juniors’ Preview

Group A:

There is going to be a ton of competition out of this group, between Canada, Finland and Czechia. With this tournament being held in August, there will be omissions of players attending NHL training camp with the hope of making their respective NHL rosters. It will be interesting to see which countries will benefit the most from this.

Czechia

Line Projections

Jiri Kulich – Michal Gut – Jan Mysak

Ivan Ivan – Gabriel Szturc – Petr Hauser

Martin Rysavy – Matyas Sapovaliv – Jaroslav Chmelar

Tomas Urban – Matous Mensik – Jakub Kos

Stanislav Svozil – David Jiricek

Jiri Tichacek – Stepan Nemec

Tomas Hamara – David Spacek

Jan Bednar

Tomas Suchanek

Czechia is entering this tournament with one of the more complete group of defencemen. Highlighted by Columbus Blue Jacket’s prospects David Jiricek and Stanislav Svozil, it will be tough to get around their big-bodied defence. On top of that, Tomas Hamara, David Spacek and Jiri Tichacek can provide offence from the blueline. Currently David Jiricek did not travel with the team as he tested positive for COVID.

To complement their defence, they also have NHL drafted forwards spread through their lineup. The most notable names include Jiri Kulich, who was recently selected 28th in the 2022 entry draft from the Buffalo Sabres, Jan Mysak the Canadiens prospect who produced this year for the Hamilton Bulldogs on their way to win the OHL cup and Matyas Sapovaliv, the playmaking power forward taken in the 2nd round of this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Everett Silvertips’ center Michal Gut will look to provide his improved playmaking, likely playing alongside goal scorers Kulich and Mysak.

Lastly, they will be looking for solid goaltending from Detroit Red Wings’ prospect Jan Bednar. With all their skill in their top-six forwards and on their blueline, Czechia will have to hope their depth can hold up and keep up with powerhouses like Finland and Canada.

Canada

Josh Roy – Mason McTavish – Connor Bedard

Kent Johnson– Logan Stankoven – Tyson Forester

Brennan Othman – Ridley Greig – William Dufour

Will Cuylle – Elliot Desnoyers – Nathan Gaucher

Donovan Sebrango – Olen Zellweger

Ryan O’Rourke – Lukas Cormier

Ronan Seely – Jack Thompson

Dylan Garand

Brett Brochu

While the Canadian team looks drastically different from the cancelled January World Juniors, they still have a strong chance of going far in this tournament. Offensively, Canada is loaded with the likes of Mason McTavish, Kent Johnson, Logan Stankoven and of course, 2023 projected first overall pick, Connor Bedard. Mason McTavish looked dominant in the January World Juniors. Using his combination of size, speed and skill to bully opponents, he will look to continue his success. The potential pairing of Kent Johnson and Logan Stankoven should be extremely fun to watch, as Johnson has elite skill often undressing defenders and Stankoven dominated the WHL last year, winning not only the WHL but the CHL player of the year award. Lastly, who can forget the name Connor Bedard, the 17-year-old phenom is coming off a season in which he produced 100 points in 61 WHL games and don’t forget he became the second 16-year-old to score a hat trick for Canada in the cancelled January World Juniors since some guy named Wayne Gretzky.

Defensively, Canada took a large blow losing both Kaiden Guhle and Owen Power, however they still have plenty of talent with Olen Zellweger, Ryan O’Rourke and Lukas Cormier. Olen Zellweger took his offensive game to another level last year producing 78 points in 55 games as an 18-year-old. He will see time running Canada’s powerplay. O’Rourke is a strong two-way defenceman who never takes a shift off, always trying to be involved, whether it’s a big hit, transition pass or a poke check to change momentum. O’Rourke will likely be paired with Lukas Cormier as Cormier is an extremely gifted offensive defenceman. While O’Rourke can bring strong defensive presence, Cormier will look for opportunities to transition the puck and join the odd man rush.

The final question for Canada is their goaltending. They are coming into the tournament with three solid options in Dylan Garand, Brett Brochu and Sebastian Cossa. All indications point to Garand and Brochu battling it out for the starting goaltending position. No matter who takes the net, Canada should be comfortable with all options available. Canada will be a team to beat this tournament.

Slovakia

Line Projections

Maros Jedlicka – Jakub Demek – Adam Sykora

Servac Petrovsky – Oleksiy Myklukha – Matej Kaslik

Samuel Honzek – Dalibor Dvorsky – Roman Faith

Oliver Stumpel – Peter Repcik – Lubomir Kupco

Rayen Petrovicky – Viliam Kmec

Adam Stripai – Maxim Strbak

Simon Groch – Boris Zabka

Tomas Bolo

Patrik Andrisik

Slovakia has taken a large hit from the tournament being held in August rather than December as top prospects Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec and Filip Mesar are not on the roster as they focus on NHL training camps. With that being said, there are still plenty of names worth watching. Looking at the forwards, Slovakia will be leaning on New York Rangers’ forward Adam Sykora to generate offence, who has made a strong impact on all international teams for Slovakia over the past year. Besides Sykora, Slovakia will be looking at Maros Jedlicka, who had a strong season in Slovakia, Minnesota Wild’s prospect Servac Petrovsky and Vegas

Golden Knights’ prospect Jakub Demek to provide support. The biggest name to watch for Slovakia, however, will be 2023 draft eligible Dalibor Dvorsky. Dvorsky as of now is seen as a top 10 talent in the upcoming draft and continues to find success internationally. The blueline is truly taking a toll with 2nd overall pick Simon Nemec opting not to participate in this tournament. Slovakia will look to rely on Rayen Petrovicky to give them top pairing minutes and solid defence from the backend. With the lack of depth, another 2023 draft eligible, Maxim Strbak, will be asked to step up to the plate. Strbak was a large piece of the Slovak team that won silver medal at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and looks to make his name known as someone to keep an eye on during his draft year.

Finally, in net Slovakia will most likely look towards 20-year-old Tomas Bolo as the starter for the team. Bolo has consistently played for Slovakia in international play and played well for Slovakia at the start of the cancelled World Juniors this past January. Overall, Slovakia will be an exciting team to watch, but will need to overcome the lack of depth in order to compete in a strong Group A.

Finland

Line Projections

Roni Hirvonen – Aatu Raty – Joakim Kemell

Ville Koivunen – Samuel Helenius – Brad Lambert

Roby Jarventie – Juuso Maenpaa – Kasper Simontaival

Eetu Liukas – Oliver Kapanen – Kalle Vaisanen

Petteri Nurmi – Topi Niemela

Eemil Viro – Ruben Rafkin

Aleksi Heimosalmi – Kasper Puutio

Leevi Merilainen

Jani Lampinen

There is legitimate competition between Finland and Canada for the top team in this Group A. Finland is loaded with a ton of talent up front, with every player in their projected top-six being selected in the 1st or 2nd round in their NHL draft. Both Aatu Raty and Brad Lambert have a chip on their shoulder to score this tournament as they each went into their draft years as projected top three picks and ended up sliding down on draft day. Finland is also lucky to have some strong playmakers on offence as Roni Hirvonen and Ville Koivunen have both proven their ability to set teammates up in Liiga. When Finland is looking for someone to bury the puck, the first option will almost always be Joakim Kemell, the elite goal scorer started last season on an absolute tear and finished with 15 goals in 39 Liiga games while battling through injuries in his draft year.

Transitioning to defence, Finland is lucky to be anchored by the player awarded best defenceman in the 2020 World Juniors in Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenceman Topi Niemela. Niemela is likely to be paired with defensive defenceman and Montreal Canadiens’ prospect Petteri Nurmi in order to give Niemela the comfort to get involved in the offensive game. Another name to watch closely on the blue line is Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect Aleksi Heimosalmi, who is an extremely strong skater that thrives in the transition game. Finland is backing it all up with Ottawa Senators’ prospect Leevi Merilainen as the projected starter. While he struggled in his first year playing for the Kingston Frontenacs, Merilainen has produced during his time with the international squad. It will be extremely exciting to see the skill of this Finnish team.

Latvia

Line Projections

Girts Silkalns – Klavs Veinbergs – Arni Ravinskis

Peteris Purmalis – Dans Locmelis – Sandis Vilmanis

Felikss Gavars – Martins Lavins – Darels Durkurs

Rainers Darzins – Raimonds Vitolins – Danils Andersons

Ralfs Bergmanis – Niks Fenenko

Harijs Brants – Rihards Simanovics

Bogdans Hodass – Gustavs Ozolins

Bruno Bruveris

Patrick Berzins

In a strong Group A, Latvia seems likely to finish in the bottom of the standings. While there are still talented players on this team, it would take a miracle for Latvia to advance to the quarterfinals. Taking a look at the forwards, Latvia will likely pair MHL teammates Girts Silkalns and Klavs Veinbergs together. Continuing the teammate trend, Dans Locmelis and Sandis Vilmanis will likely see a large amount of ice time together for Latvia coming off a strong season together playing in the J20 league producing 34 and 32 points, respectively. Both Locmelis and Vilmanis were recently drafted in the 2022 NHL draft, Locemlis was taken in the 4th round by the Boston Bruins and Vilmanis was selected in the 5th round by the Florida Panthers.

Latvia’s blueline will be anchored by 17-year-old defenceman Niks Fenenko. Fenenko went undrafted in the 2022 NHL draft despite having a fairly solid season playing the QMJHL scoring 40 points in 62 games. Projected to partner with Fenenko is University of Vermont commit, Ralfs Bergmanis. Although he is only 5’10”, Bergmanis is willing to throw his body around and disrupt play. The likely starter in net for Latvia will be 20-year-old Bruno Bruveris, who spent the past year playing with Cedar Rapids of the USHL, posting a 3.02 GAA with a .873 SV%. It would be an upset to see Latvia make the quarterfinals let alone win a game in this tough Group.

Group B:

Group B is expected to be dominated by two powerhouses in the United States and Sweden. It will be exciting to see if any of Germany, Switzerland or Austria can challenge either powerhouse and shake up the group. Even with losing players due to NHL training camps, the United States and Sweden are still positioned to make it far in this tournament.

United States

Line Projections

Matthew Knies – Logan Cooley – Matthew Coronato

Landon Slaggert – Thomas Bordeleau – Carter Mazur

Sasha Pastujov – Hunter Mckown – Brett Berard

Red Savage – Charlie Stramel – Mackie Samoskevich

Wyatt Kaiser – Sean Behrens

Tyler Kleven – Ian Moore

Jacob Truscott – Brock Faber

Remington Keopple

Andrew Oke

The United States are coming into this tournament with an extreme amount of talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ice. While they may have one of the most talented rosters entering the August World Juniors, they have one major concern, the goaltending. No matter which goaltender starts the tournament for them, it will be an undrafted goaltender. Before we dig deeper, let us take a look at their firepower upfront. It will be extremely exciting to be able to see a line consisting of Matthew Knies, Logan Cooley and Matthew Coronato. All three have played for the USNTDP and each are considered offensive forces.

On top of that, the US finally will be able to have Thomas Bordeleau play for them as he unfortunately missed the last several World Juniors. The depth of the US forwards is something to be amazed at. Players like Sasha Pastujov and Mackie Samozkevich, each have immense skill and will provide scoring depth throughout the lineup. In addition, 2023 draft eligible Charlie Stramel looks to have made a strong impression and has carved out a role on this team. It will be interesting to see how this boosts his draft stock entering his draft year.

Taking a look at the US defence, it may be one of the most talented pools of defenceman in this tournament. There are many reliable names defensively on the backend including captain Brock Faber, Tyler Kleven, Jacob Truscott and Wyatt Kaiser. Offensively, the US will lean on Sean Behrens and Ian Moore to pinch and provide odd man rushes from the blueline. It is extremely important for their defence to play up to the level that many expect them to as they are going to play behind lesser named goaltenders in Remington Keopple and Andrew Oke. Keopple, the older of the two goalies, played this past season with Des Moines of the USHL, putting up a 3.06 GAA and a .896 SV%. Oke, who is only 18, had a worse season playing for a poor Saginaw team in the OHL. He produced a 4.63 GAA with a .848 SV%. If the US can protect their goaltenders they will be in for a long run.

Switzerland

Line Projections

Simon Knak – Joshua Fahrni – Jonas Taibel

Fabian Ritzmann – Joel Henry – Marlon Graf

Attilio Biasca – Micolas Baechler – Kevin Nicolet

Joel Marchon – Mats Alge – Tim Muggli

Giancarlo Chanton – Noah Delemont

Nick Meile – Dario Sidler

Rodwin Dionicio – Arno Nussbaumer

Noah Patenaude

Andri Henauer

The battle for the third spot in Group B will be a close one to watch and Switzerland will have to rely on a mix of veteran and youth to avoid relegation. The most notable forward for Switzerland is 20-year-old Nashville Predators’ prospect Simon Knak who has split time between the WHL and the Swiss National League. Knak has a knack for forechecking, often using his skating ability to provide pressure to puck carriers hoping to pounce on loose pucks. Switzerland will also rely on the youth, with 17-year-old Jonas Taibel likely playing top line minutes. He finished the previous season with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, producing 21 points in 57 games.

On the backend, Switzerland will turn to 20-year-old Noah Delemont to cover significant minutes for them. Delemont is calm cool and collected on the ice, which allows him to scan theice and use his strong vision to pass the puck. Like their forwards, Switzerland will again look to the youth and 18-year-old Nick Melie, who has been a consistent part of Switzerland’s international teams, producing four points in nine games at the U18’s. Switzerland is most comfortable with their goaltending. Noah Patenaude has proven to be reliable, playing for Saint John in the QMJHL producing a 2.96 GAA and a .914 SV%. With a little luck and strong goaltending, Switzerland has the chance to steal a couple games.

Germany

Line Projections

Alexander Blank – Danjo Leonhardt – Josef Eham

Markus Schweiger – Joshua Samanski – Justin Volek

Haakon Hanlet – Bennett Rossmy – Maciej Rutkowski

Thomas Heigl – Luca Hauf – Yannick Proske

Maksymilian Szuber – Luca Munzenberger

Adrian Klein – Maximilian Glotzl

Arkadiusz Dziambor – Korbinian Geibel

Florian Bugl

Niklas Lunemann

Germany was one of the unfortunate teams that were heavily affected by having the tournament moved from January to August as they had to replace seven players from the January roster. On offence, Germany will be leaning on Alexander Blank, Danjo Leonhardt and Josef Eham. Alexander Blank was off to a hot start for Germany in January scoring 3 points in 2 games before it was cancelled. Leonhardt, on the other hand, had a strong season playing in the Alps Hockey League finishing the past season with 35 points in 32 games. Both Leonhardt and Eham are teammates for RB Hockey in the Alps Hockey League and their chemistry should be used on a line together. Eham, like Leonhardt, had a great season finishing with a 1.14 point per game.

Defensively, the go-to player for Germany will be Luca Munzenberger. The former 3rd round pick of the Edmonton Oilers played the previous season for the University of Vermont. At Vermont, Munzernberger has polished his defence working on his gap control. Projected to play across from Munzenberger is Maksymilian Szuber who spent the majority of the season in the DEL playing for EHC Munchen. Szuber, an Arizona Coyotes’ draft pick, is a large raw defenceman who uses his body to his advantage.

In net, Germany will rely on 20-year-old Florian Bugl who dominated the Alps Hockey League last season producing a 2.27 GAA and a .916 SV%. Bugl looked fairly sturdy in January in his lone game in the cancelled World Juniors. Germany will be in a strong battle to avoid relegation and make the quarterfinals.

Austria

Line Projections

Oskar Maier – Leon Wallner – Moritz Lackner

Jonas Dobnig – Ian Scherzer – Senna Peeters

Fin Vann Ee – Luca Auer – Maximilian Hengelmuller

Tim Geifes – Janick Wernicke – Nico Kramer

Tobias Sablattnig – Martin Urbanek

David Reinbacher – Christoph Tialler

Lukas Horl – Lukas Necesany

Leon Sommer

Thomas Pfarrmaier

Similar to Switzerland and Germany, Austria will be trying to avoid relegation and will fight for a spot in the quarterfinals. The majority of Austria’s offence will be ran through Oskar Maier and Leon Wallner. Maier was named captain of the RB Hockey team in the Alps hockey league last year, finishing the season with 24 points in 27 games. Wallner, on the other hand, played his season in Sweden in the J20 league, producing 37 points in 28 games. An exciting name to watch for Austria this World Juniors is 2023 draft eligible Ian Scherzer. Last season, Scherzer excelled in the Swedish J18 league scoring 15 points in 17 games. He will be using this tournament as a platform to get himself noticed by NHL scouts.

Austria’s backend will be fortified by the youth with the likes of 19-year-old Tobias Sablattnig and 17-year-old David Reinbacher. Sablattnig spent the majority of the season in the Alps Hockey League where the 6’0” defenceman was able to put up 16 points in 37 games. Reinbacher has spent the past season between the U-20 Elit league and the Swiss League. The 2023 draft eligible put up a combined 33 points in 50 games and will look to use this tournament as a platform to get drafted.

Lastly, the net will be occupied by Leon Sommer who played for a poor Steel Wings Linz of the Alps Hockey league allowing 3.16 GAA while carrying a .910 SV%. Austria will hope their youth will be able to step up and lead their team to a few victories.

Sweden

Oskar Olausson – Daniel Ljungman – Fabian Lysell

Isak Rosen – Theodor Neiderbach – Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Linus Sjodin – Ake Stakkestad – Daniel Torgersson

Oskar Magnusson – Victor Stjernborg – Albert Sjoberg

Simon Edvinsson – Helge Grans

Leo Loof – Mans Forsfjall

Emil Andrae – William Wallinder

Jesper Wallstedt

Calle Clang

The other power house in Group B, Sweden has an enormous amount of talent up front and will look to lean on their skill to bring them a medal. The projected first line of Oskar Olausson, Daniel Ljungman and Fabian Lysell will be looked upon to set the offensive tone for Sweden. Olausson and Lysell both have a combination of speed and skill, which they use to transition the puck and attack the offensive zone. Ljungman has proven to be a good two-way centre who will provide support on both sides of the ice. Sweden still has options down the line including a pair of first round picks in Buffalo Sabres’ prospect Isak Rosen and Vancouver Canucks’ prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Both these players spent a large chunk of the previous season in the SHL in limited roles and were still able to produce.

The backend is where Sweden will excel, anchoring it will be none other than 6’6” Detroit Red Wings’ prospect Simon Edvinsson who has a unique combination of size, physicality and speed. Opposite of Edvinsson should be Helge Grans, the two-way defender uses his speed and long reach to close gaps and attack forwards turning over possession. To show the depth on this defence, the projected bottom pairing, Emil Andrae and William Wallinder, should make a large impact for Sweden. Andrae is an extremely skilled offensive defenceman who put up 33 points in 41 games in the Hockey Allsvenkan league. His partner Wallinder is a big bruising 6’4” defenceman who will crush any player in his way.

In net is where Sweden has the largest advantage though, with Minnesota Wild’s prospect Jesper Wallstedt. Wallstedt improved on his draft year season playing 22 games in the SHL and putting up ridiculous numbers with a 1.98 GAA and a .918 SV%. It is going to be extremely difficult to score on Sweden in this tournament.

WJ Predicitons

Group A

Canada

Finland

Czechia

Slovakia

Latvia

Group B

Sweden

USA

Germany

Switzerland

Austria

Quarterfinals

Canada over Switzerland

Finland over Germany

Czechia over USA

Sweden over Slovakia

Semifinals

Canada over Finland

Sweden over Czechia

Medals

Sweden – Gold

Canada – Silver

Finland – Bronze

Tournament MVP – Connor Bedard

Best Forward – Mason McTavish

Best Defenceman – Simon Edvinsson

Best Goaltender – Jesper Wallsted

All-Tournament team

F – Connor Bedard

F – Mason McTavish

F – Logan Cooley

D – Simon Edvinsson

D – Topi Niemela

G – Jesper Wallstedt

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: COLORADO AVALANCHE – RANK: #13 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:37:49 +0000

Colorado Avalanche

#13 Colorado - More like Arizona than Philadelphia, Colorado's system has a great high end, featuring two elite-level prospects in Byram and Newhook, but the talent level drops off from there, and drops even harder after 11.

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 31: Colorado Avalanche Defenceman Bowen Byram (4) skates with the puck during an NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche on January 31, 2021, at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

Bowen Byram - D

Byram captained the Canadian WJC team to silver in December, before making his NHL debut with the Avalanche, getting into 19 games. He acquitted himself well at the pro level, posting just two points but with solid underlying numbers on a deep Colorado lineup, despite nagging injuries along the way.

A shifty skater with great feet mechanics, Byram changes direction well and is a threat rushing the puck up ice, in addition to being difficult to beat one-on-one due to a good understanding of gaps and excellent closing speed. He thinks and anticipates the game well, exuding the calm demeanor of a player that never seems to be in trouble regardless of the situation. Unafraid of jumping up in the offensive zone, Byram can even be found around or behind the opposition net as the opportunity presents itself, but he doesn’t take unnecessary risks and does well to get his shot through traffic, making the safe play when the shooting lane isn’t there. His offensive game may develop slower in the NHL as the Avalanche have Cale Makar and Devon Toews carrying the mail in that category, and powerplay time could be hard to come by for Byram. His offseason training focused on improving his skating even further, and 2021-22 could be another big step forward in development for the former 4^th overall pick. - AS

Alex Newhook - C

Among the most NHL-ready prospects in the sport, Newhook simply keeps getting better, no matter where he plays. He was spectacular in a short season with Boston College. He was awesome for Team Canada at the WJC. After his collegiate season ended, he signed a pro contract and proved that he was already too good for the AHL, with nine points in eight games at the level. And then he moved up to the NHL, where he more than held his own in the NHL, playing 10-15 minutes per game at the end of the regular season, before being reduced to six-nine minutes per game in the postseason for the Avs.

A fantastic skater with both the edgework and the speed to make defenders miss, his hands are just as fast, picking up any slack when his feet alone aren’t enough. And both of those tools play up thanks to his ability to read the defenses, allowing him to find their weak spots, not relying only on his physical tools. For all intents and purposes, Newhook looks like a top six lock in the near future. If there is any concern at all in his profile, it is his lack of a physical impact minimizing his options for contributing if he isn’t creating or finishing scoring chances. Newhook is ready for the NHL. - RW

3. Justin Barron - D

Barron returned to Halifax this season with the title of captain. He had a terrific season with the Mooseheads, progressing extremely well as an NHL prospect. There was a confidence and a calmness to his game (especially with the puck) that he had not previously shown consistently. He also had a short run in the AHL with seven regular season games (one goal and four assists) and two playoff games where he finished with one goal and two assists.

He continues to base his game on his strengths, including his excellent skating and mobility. He remains a player who excels in transition and carrying the puck. Due to the steps forward that he has taken, the Avalanche have to have more and more confidence that he will become a great defenseman in the NHL. His game is adapted for current NHL hockey. After adding Ryan Murray to the fold on the main Colorado roster, the Avalanche top six appears set heading into the year. That means Barron is destined to play this season in the AHL, which will allow him to build up confidence in his offensive game at the pro level. - BB

Oskar Olausson - RW

As with many of this year’s better Swedish prospects, Olausson was given limited minutes playing in men’s hockey, especially after Sweden shut down all junior leagues. Before then, the rangy winger was absolutely crushing it for HV 71’s U20 team, outproducing all draft eligible players in the league, with only Detroit prospect Theodor Neiderbach outproducing him on a per-game basis. He did not receive nearly as much ice time the rest of the way, whether he was playing for HV 71’s men’ team in the SHL, Sodertalje, in the Swedish second men’s tier (HockeyAllsvenskan) or in a depth role for Sweden at the WJC. That said, even without that many opportunities, he still managed to score three goals at each men’s level, showing what kind of role he is comfortable playing right now, and hinting at what his collection of abilities portends for his near-time and long-term future.

The three strengths to Olausson’s game are his skating ability, shooting ability, and his off-puck play. He possesses excellent top speed that puts a lot of pressure on defenders. His wrist shot can find twine from anywhere in the home plate area. He releases it very quickly, with a lot of power and strong placement. He is also a committed two-way player who uses his size and speed to his advantage. Ultimately, the concern is just how strong his creativity and puck skill are, which could, of course, hinder his potential. Olausson has signed with Colorado already and intends to play in North America this year with Barrie of the OHL. His 2021 season should give us a better indication of his high-end offensive upside. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Justus Annunen - G

For the second straight season Annunen split time with former Red Wings prospect Patrik Rybar in Karpat, only this past season saw a real dip in his performance. The 2019/20 season was a breakout one for the Finnish netminder. He posted the best save percentage in Liiga and he performed well for Finland at the World Juniors as a starter. However, this past season he was badly outplayed by Rybar and took a step backwards in his development.

Scheduled to play full time in the AHL this season, his first full year in North America, Annunen will look to get his game back on track. One bad season should not be enough to cancel out the impressive ones previously. The 6’4, 210 lbs netminder is great at finding pucks through traffic and he can play a little more aggressively than your average larger goaltender because he also possesses plus athleticism. Annunen simply needs to focus on tracking the play better East/West and to refine some of his more technical movements to become more consistent. The Avalanche do have a bit of a logjam at the pro level right now in net, but they will obviously find playing time with the Eagles for their potential star prospect. - BO

Sampo Ranta - LW

Not many players make their NHL debuts in the postseason like Ranta did last season. Cale Makar was one notable recent example. Ranta is not likely to follow in those exemplary footsteps, however he is worth paying attention to. If you like wingers who can play at an incredibly high pace and put the puck in the net at a healthy clip as well, this is the player for you. If those two elements weren’t enough, then further note that he has plus size, is reliable off the puck at even strength as well as on the PK and can demonstrate some razzle dazzle with the puck as well.

On the other hand, Ranta isn’t a perfect prospect. If he was, he would rank higher here. At his best, he flashes elite ability, and you wonder how he is ever stopped. The rest of the time, you are wondering where he is. This inconsistency has plagued him going back to his pre-draft seasons with Sioux City in the USHL. Hopefully he can straighten this out as a pro so that he does not consistently rely on his teammates to pick up the slack when he is going through dry spells. Another season in the AHL won’t do him any harm. - RW

Martin Kaut - RW

The development of former first round selection (in 2018) Martin Kaut has probably been slower than the Avalanche organization would have liked or anticipated. The Czech forward jumped right to the AHL after being drafted, playing in the AHL as an 18/19-year-old. While his production at that age was adequate, his lack of improvement in his sophomore year was somewhat concerning, even if it did include him scoring his first NHL goal. Last season, Kaut bounced between four different teams because of the pandemic, however, did manage to finally inch closer to the point per game mark in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles.

Still exempt from waivers (despite three pro seasons) due to the young age that he signed at (and played at the AHL level at), Kaut is still not a lock to make the Avalanche roster this season. His two-way approach and strong complementary skill set does make him a versatile winger. He can find his way to the net, supports well along the wall, and makes reliable decisions with the puck. However, his speed and skating ability have never developed past being average and it would appear that will limit his NHL potential to being more of a quality third line winger. - BO

Shane Bowers - C

The ticking of the clock on Bowers’ potential as a future NHL’er is getting louder and louder. The former first round pick of the Ottawa Senators, traded to the Avs as part of the return for Matt Duchene, Bowers spent only two years developing with Boston University before turning pro, and it is looking more and more like he (and Colorado) jumped the gun on his professional career before he was ready. Even in his draft year, his upside was seen as a middle six center, perhaps with the ability to kill penalties. This projection was based on his big, strong frame, smooth skating that allowed him to eat up the ice in a few strokes, and a style that fit a North-South game. Without ever blowing up the scoresheets, he still looked like an NHL’er.

There was hope that more offense would come, but four years have passed, and we have less reason to keep waiting. His production over two years in college was fine, albeit unspectacular. His first AHL campaign was more of the same, but last season, admittedly an abbreviated one, his production fell off a cliff, with only nine points in 28 games. With one year remaining on his entry level deal, the time is now for Bowers to force his way into Colorado’s future plans. The team has solid depth down the middle, and more of the same from Bowers won’t earn him an NHL debut. There are still some raw tools lurking within, but it is time for them to come out and play. - RW

Jean-Luc Foudy - C

Foudy was among the OHL players granted the exemption to play in the AHL due to the cancelled OHL season. Playing a full season, he managed to finish with 14 points in 34 games, while contributing on the power play. He had moments where he displayed great skill and flash, scoring two highlight goals. Foudy used his elite skating to his advantage many times, creating space and separation from opponents. He’s able to move so quickly and make such agile turns on his edges that he rarely loses speed, being able to draw penalties. He used his vision efficiently to find teammates in traffic to keep plays alive, but there were some consistency issues, where at times, simple passes just weren’t connecting. As such, he will need to continue working on his passing accuracy. Also, there were moments where he would over-handle the puck, lose possession or even find his way skating into danger.

Throughout the season, Foudy showed glimpses of great confidence with the puck, being able to break out in transition and control offensive zone entries, but he will need to continue to become more consistent. He projects as a useful middle six center, who can use his great speed and skating ability each shift. With Foudy playing over 20 games in the AHL he has the exemption to play in the league again next year, but it seems more likely that the best path for Foudy would be to return to the OHL for his confidence, playing top minutes on a competitive Spitfires team. - DK

Drew Helleson - D

A big blueliner with a right-handed shot, until this year Helleson was seen as more of a low-upside, stay-at-home type, better at breaking plays up than creating them. No longer. The switch began with his performance for Team USA at the WJC, where his four points were at least three more than were expected given his historical track record of production. Helleson skates very well for his size, and that showed this year in his new-found willingness to jump up into the rush, giving the opposing defenses something extra to think about. His offensive tools are just OK, but he seemed to show a knack for timing his ‘on-switch’ well, catching the defenses by surprise and maximizing the impact of his approach.

The offensive dalliances continued after he returned to Boston College as well, with production levels 250% greater than his freshman production. That said, the offensive impact did not come at the expense of his defensive game, for which he was named the top defensive defenseman in Hockey East last year. If what Helleson showed last year was for real, and not merely a flash in the pan, his projection will not only rise from the #4/5 he looked like with the USNTDP, but the Avalanche defensive pipeline will go from an organizational strength to a juggernaut. More will be known after his junior season. - RW

Sean Behrens - D

A standout with the U.S. U18 team last season, Behrens was a second-round pick by the Avs in 2021. The stocky blueliner has great mobility and a nonstop motor. He will likely take on a large role with the University of Denver this year as a freshman.

Alex Beaucage - RW

2020/21 was a very successful season for Beaucage, a 2019 third round selection. After a deadline move to Victoriaville, Beaucage led the QMJHL postseason in scoring and led the Tigres to a championship. He will turn pro this year and play in the AHL.

Nikolai Kovalenko - RW

The son of former NHL’er Andrei, Nikolai is a bull on his skates and blends power and skill despite being only 5’10. After a bit of a step back in the KHL this past season, Nikolai has moved to Ak Bars Kazan for this year, where he can hopefully get more playing time this season.

Danila Zhuravlyov - D

Already with Ak Bars, Zhuravlyov will be a teammate of Kovalenko next year. The two-way defender is coming off of his best KHL season yet and will continue his development in Russia again next year.

Colby Ambrosio - C

A fourth-round pick by Colorado in 2020, Ambrosio is coming off of a decent freshman season with Boston College last season. Ambrosio is extremely dangerous in transition with his puck skill and speed; however, he will need to continue to round out other parts of his game to be an impact player at the next level.

Oskar Olausson – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Colorado Avalanche Top-15 Prospects

1. Cal Ritchie

2. Mikhail Gulyayev

3. Nikolai Kovalenko

4. Sean Behrens

5. Justus Annunen

6. Jean-Luc Foudy

7. Oskar Olausson

8. Ilya Nabokov

9. Sam Malinski

10. William Zellers

11. Ivan Ivan

12. Tory Pitner

13. Jake Fisher

14. Maros Jedlicka

15. Matthew Steinburg

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #20 Colorado Avalanche – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

2. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Avangard Omsk (KHL)

3. Nikolai Kovalenko, RW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

4. Sean Behrens, D, University of Denver (NCAA)

5. Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

6. Oskar Olausson, RW, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

7. Justus Annunen, G, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

8. Sam Malinski, D, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

9. Graham Sward, D, Wenatchee Wild (WHL)

10. Ivan Ivan, C, Colorado Eagles (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

Risers

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Fallers

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #29 – Colorado Avalanche

Prospect System Ranking – 29th

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 Prospect Rankings – Risers and Fallers

Risers

Fallers

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – COLORADO AVALANCHE – Top 20 Prospects

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Preview

World Juniors’ Preview

Group A:

Czechia

Canada

Slovakia

Finland

Latvia

Group B:

United States

Prospect System Ranking – 29^th